Part 19 (1/2)

It wasn't always like that, though. About a thousand years after time began, the Spirit People began to complain.

”We're tired of making a dress every night,” They said.

”Sun Woman won't mind if We make a hundred dresses and pile them up.

That way We can take a vacation. We can stack up lots of logs for Her torches, too.”

It was summertime then, and Sun Woman was old. It took Her a long time to cross the sky. That evening when She hobbled under the desert sands for the night, the Spirit People gathered about Her.

”Sun Woman, Sun Woman,” They said.

”We're tired of sewing every night. It's the same thing over and over again. Sun Woman, We want to work very hard for a while and pile up a lot of dresses and logs, and then We want to rest.”

Sun Woman surprised the Spirit People with Her answer.

”I'm tired too,” She said. She let out a big sigh and sat down heavily.

”I'm exhausted. Forget about making dresses and getting torches,” She said.

”I'm too tired to go up to the Earth People for a while.”

The Spirit People looked at each other.

”But, Sun Woman,” They said, ”if You don't go up there, there won't be any daytime.”

Sun Woman shrugged.

”If You can take a vacation, so can I,” She said.

The Spirit People looked at each other again. Then an Old Woman Spirit spoke out, ”I know about being tired, Sun Woman,” She said.

”I lived a very long time among the Earth People. My life there was very hard. But every morning, Sun Woman, You came again out of the ground, and there before me was a new day. I needed You, Sun Woman. I needed Your light so I could keep on.”

Then an Old Man Spirit began to speak.

”I lost my wife and children when I was a young man,” He said.

”I cannot face my life without my family,” I said.

”I want to die.” But my friend came and held my hands.

”Don't face all the days of your life,” my friend said.

”Just face today. See. Here comes Sun Woman. Just stay this one day, until She leaves us tonight.”

” The Old Man Spirit stopped for a moment. Then He said, ”That's what I did. I stayed just for one day. And I kept doing that. Just staying for one day each day. That's how I lived for a long time one day at a time.”

”Sun Woman,” said a Baby Spirit.

”If You don't make Your journey every day, I don't want to get born.”

The Spirit People nodded and talked aloud together.